Cavaliers exercise option on Timofey Mozgov's contract for 2015-16 season

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ first major move of the offseason might have been their easiest.

The Cavs announced on Tuesday, June 23, that they exercised their option on Timofey Mozgov’s contract for the 2015-16 season. The 7-foot-1 center will make $4.95 million next season. Mozgov was acquired from the Denver Nuggets, along with a 2015 second-round pick, in January for two first-round selections. The deal was the second in a 48-hour span in which the Cavs revitalized their roster with the additions of Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith. Mozgov played in 46 games for the Cavs in the regular season. He averaged 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest, and he shot 59% from the field. Counting the Cavs’ run to the NBA Finals, they were 48-17 with Mozgov in the starting lineup. In 20 playoff appearances, Mozgov had norms of 10.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He shot 50% from the floor and 79% from the free-throw line. His best performance of the postseason was a 28-point, 10-rebound showing in the Cavs’ 103-82 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The rest of the offseason will be much more complicated for the Cavs. LeBron James, Kevin Love and Smith have player options for 2015-16 that they are expected to decline (though all three have said they want to stay in Cleveland, and James seems all but certain to do so). In addition, Tristan Thompson, Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova will be restricted free agents. Counting the luxury tax, the Cavs’ payroll could approach $200 million in 2015-16. The Brooklyn Nets paid an NBA-record $197 million in salaries and luxury taxes last season.